Invoice sheet



Feb. 19 1924.

DE WITT N. CONKLIN INVOICE SHEET Filed sept. 9. z sheets-shea 1 Patented Feb. i9, i924.

UNITED STATES p 1,483,869 PATENT OFFICE.

DE WITT N. vCONKLIN, 0F EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOy UNDER-WOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INVOICE SHEET. y

Application filed September 9, 1921. Serial No. 499,528.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DE Vrr'r N. CONKLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Invoice Sheets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bill Storms or blanks, to the filling out of the forms, and to the manner of computing and recording the entries, and is herein illustrated as applied in the preparation of telephone bills.

In carrying out the invention, use may be made of two sets of forms, the forms of one set being used as originals to be sent out to the subscribers and those of the other set for use a duplicates. As herein disclosed, the form for the original bill or statement comprises a body portion and a detachable portion or stub preferably separated there- :from by a line along which the material is weakened to facilitate such detachment. Then properly filled out, the` amount due will appear on both the stub and the bill proper. In case a receipt is desired, the sub scriber returns the whole bill with a check or other medium of payment, and the bill proper, suitably receipted,vwill be returned, the stub being retained by the company. If no receipt is desired, the subscriber merely forwards the stub with his payment and retains the bill proper. The name and address of t-he subscriber, whichmay appear on both body portion and stub of the original and preferably in corresponding position on the duplicate, may be placed on the forms in any suitable manner. as, for example, by an addressing machine.

The body portion of the original bill or statement includes a heading space, in which the name of the company and other data appear, and a series of short columns across the lower part in which debit` and credit items may be entered, the result 0I" combining such items being typed in the last column on the body portion and also in an adjacent column on the detachable portion. Provision may also be made of two short columns in a lower row formed by down wardly extending the last .two columns in the upperline of the bill, the first two columns receiving the previous balance-due item,

\ if such exists, and the next column being reserved'for the final result, which is typed in a downward extension of the column on the stub in which the total or result of the upper line is written. v

The duplicate bill blank is substantially the same as vthe original, but has an additional shaded column in the lower line, to the left of the other columns, which is adapted for use when the forms are filled out in a bookkeeping machine.

As herein illustrated, the blanks are used in yconnection with a bookkeeping machine of the Underwood-Hanson type, having credit-balance mechanism to assist in controlling the color-changing means. This machine may be similar to that disclosed in the application of Adolph Gr. Kupetz, Serial No. 244,250, filed July l0, 1918. y

In practice, the `bill and duplicate, with a carbon-sheet therebetween, are assembled with the original in front, inserted in the machine, preferably at the front of the platen, and gaged by a leading-edge gage, so that the upper row of short `columns is suitably positioned with reference to the writing line@ Each credit item, after being typed in its proper column, is run into a register accumulative for all of the accounts, and also into two general or universal reg isters which compute the amount of the bill ineach case. In like manner each debit item is typed in the proper column, subtracted from the two .general registers and added into a corresponding` accumulative register. When the last column on thebody portion is reached, the result shown in the general registers is .typed therein and this amount is subtracted ,from one `of the general registers, `thereby clearing it, and is added intoy a corresponding accumulative register.. In connection with typing the result 4on the stub, the other general register is cleared.

For this .part of the work, the machine is equipped with a ribbon having two-color fields, preferably a black upper field and a red lower field. The additive items are pref` erably printed in black, and the negative ones in red on the original, the results, when typed in the last column of the body portion and on the stub, being printed in black and then subtracted from the general or uni-` versal registers. i

After the entries have been made in the first lines of all the bills to be prepared, each of the bills for subscribers owing or previous months is placed in the machine and gaged to receive entries on the second line by means of the leading-edge gage, which has been suitably adjusted. Before making such entries, however, the ribbon with black and red fields formerly in the machineis replaced by a ribbon having a black upper field and a white lower field, which may be termed a non-ink, non-print or non-color field. Obviously, instead of changing the ribbon in the machine used in typing the first line, theJ bills may be inserted in another machine equipped with a ribbon having a black field and a white field. is then positioned so that, when the Balance due on bill rendered is typed, a carbon impression will be made on the shaded column of they duplicate. Before effecting such typing, the color-changing mechanism is shifted to render the non-print field effective, so that no impression of the typing will appear on the original. The typing will, however, cause a carbon impression to be made on the shaded area of the duplicate. The carbon impression made on the shaded area of the duplicate is, however, less conspicuous than the other entries in the same line, and, while not liable to be confused therewith, may serve as a check toA show that the proper number has been picked up in the machine.

Other features and advantages will herein after appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view of an original bill, showing the entries made thereon.

Figure 2 is a view of a duplicate bill, showing the entries made thereon.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view indicating the positions in which different items are entered in one line on the bill and duplicate, and the manner in which the various items areadded into or subtracted out of the different registers in a bookkeeping machine used in preparing the bill.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view indicating the positions in which different items are entered in a second line on the duplicate, and the manner in which such items are run into or subtracted out of certain registers, the same items, except that typed in the shaded column, being typed on the original.

A bill-blank or form 11 comprises a body portion 12 and a detachable portion. or stub 13 separated from the body portion 12 by a line 14, along which the material of the form is of less strength than elsewhere. Preferably, the line of weakened material is obtained by perforating the bill-blank at intervals along said line 14.

The body portion 12 may be provided at its top with a heading including the name of the company and the date when the bill becomes due. Space may also be reserved for the name and address of they customer,

The carriage` which may be written thereon or printed in any suitable manner, as, for example, by means of an addressing machine. Certain of the same data may also appear on the stub, but may be positioned differently.

Gn the lower portion of the blank, provision is made of a transversely-arranged series of columns 15 to 22, inclusive, separated by lines 23, except where the line 14 separates column 22 from column 21. In alignment with these columns and above the same are suitable legends or headings to denote their use.

Above the columns designated by l5, 16, li', Figure 1, appear, respectively, the headings Number sent", Charge, Toll service etc. as per statement, a lleading Additional local messages7 being placed above the columns 15 and 16 above their individual headings, and a heading indicating the intervals in which the items in the three columns were incurred being placed above the heading common to the columns 15 and 16, and the heading of the column 17. The headings may be separated by suitably-positioned lines. The columns 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22, respectively, are designated by the headings or legends Local service and facilities charge, Miscellaneous charges as per statement, Credit as per statement, Charges for the current month, Total amount due.

The line 24 at the. lower ends of the columns 15 to 21, inclusive, terminates at the line 14, but the line 25 at the upper ends of these columns is extended across line 14, and

with a line 26 at the right and 'a line 27 at the bottom, positioned below the line 24, defines column 22 on the stub. Immediately below columns 2O and 21 are two short columns 28 and 29, respectively, the vfirst being designated by the legend Balance due on bill rendered, and the second by Total amount due.

In connection with an original bill-blank 11, use may be made of a bill-blank or form 30, Figure 2, as a duplicate. The bill-blank 30, which is of the same size as bill-blank 11, is provided with columns 31 to 38, inclusive, 39 and 40, corresponding, respectively, to columns 15 to 22, inclusive, 28 and 29 of the blank 11, and also with a shaded column 41 beneath the column 35, to be used as a pick-up column in connection with computation eilected with the items of the lower line, as will be explained more fully hereinat'ter.

To prepare bills of the form disclosed, use may be made of an eight-register machine, or a machine of a smaller number of registers which are split to give the effect of an increased number of registers of smaller capacity. The manner of entering items in the different registers is shown diagrammatically in Figures 3, and 4. To position the bills for writingin the two lines of items, use is made of an aligning plate, not shown having a leading edge gage, which may be in the form of a flange at its upper edge, the aligning plate being adjustable, so that the bills, when gaged thereby at. different times, will be positioned with either the upper or lower lines of items at the printing line.

As disclosed in Figure 1, the bill is shown as made out for May 1, 1921. Inpractice, theoriginal bill 11 and the duplicate bill 30 to receive the carbon copy are placed together with a carbon-sheet therebetween, and inserted preferably at the front of the platen, their upper edges being gaged by Ineans of the fiange on said aligning plate, which has been adjusted so as to properly position the first line of short columns at the printing line. The side-gaging of the bills may be effected in any suitable manner. If desired, a record-sheet and a carbon-sheet thereover may be used, so that carbon impressions of items entered on the bill will appear on both the duplicate and the record-sheet.

After positioning the original and duplicate in. the machine, the number of additional local `messages sent is typed in column l5 and the charge, computed at 5 cents for each call, is entered in the 1st, `6th and 8th registers, additive computing zones for which have been determined in the usual manner. The charge, $1.15, for j Toll services etc. as per statement, is entered in column 17and run additively into the 2nd, 6th and 8th registers. The charge, $2.50, for Local service and facilities, is entered in column 18 and added into the 3rd, 6th and 8th registers. All of the items just mentioned are printed in black on the original. No item is shown in column 19, but, if an item of this kind appears in an account, it may be added in the 4th, 6th and 8th registers. The next item, $2.00, the Credit as per statement, is added in the 5th register and subtracted from the 6th and 8th registers, being printed in red. To obtain this result, use is made of a red subtraction stop, not shown, and, in order that the machine, when set for subtraction, may add into the register 5, the dial-wheels of this register are reversed, that is, the digits thereon are arranged in an order reverse to that of the accumulative registers 1 to 4, inclusive. The item, $2.15, Charges for current month, which is shown in registers 6 and 8, is printed in black in column 21, subtracted from register 6 to clear that* register, andadded into accumulative register 7, which is provided with reverse dialwheels in the same manner as register 5, a black subtraction stop being used to determine the color of printing. Since the 6th register is cleared, a star may be typed after the result. The ltotal amount due, which is shown in register 8, is dueto the use of a black subtraction stop, typed in black'in the column designated by 22 and subtracted from register 8, which is cleared in this manner, a star being typed after the result to indicate such clearance.

' Since the monetary items typed in columns 16 to 22, inclusive, are the only ones involved in the computation by the machine, these columns may be conveniently designated col. 1, col. 2, col. 3, col. 4, col. 5, col; 6, and col. 7, as indicated in Figure 3. It should be understood that in Figures 3 and 4 a fullline drawn from an item to a register indicates addition and a broken line indicates subtraction. The outlines in the lower parts of Figures 3 and l indicate the numbers run into the different registers and the numbers below the line at the bottom of said figures indicate the numbers shown in the various registers after all of the items have been typed in the first line and the computation completed.

The bill and duplicate are then removed from the machine and another pair inserted. lllhen the typing on the first line of the bills or forms fory all of the customers is completed, the original and duplicate bills for all subscribers owing for previous months are again inserted and gaged by said aligning plate, which has been shifted upwardly, so as `to position thebills for typing in the second line. The red and 'black ribbon is removed before typing in the second line, anda ribbon havingl a blackupper field and white lower field is inserted. When the types strike through the lower field of the ribbon last mentioned, no printing will be effected on the original and the lower field may, therefore, be termed 'a non-color or non-print field. It will be' seen that, by substituting the second ribbon for the first, a i

carbon copy may be obtained on the duplicate sheet without printing on the orignal.

As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, there is a balance due of $3. It will then be necessary to insert` the original 11 and duplicate 30 in the machine. V'Vhen this is completed, 4the credit-balance key is actuated to make the white field effective, and, upon typing 2.15, the result .of the computation in the lirst line', 2.15 will appear on the shaded portion of the duplicate, and not on the original, and will be run into the L1th, 6th and 8th registers. The item 3.00 is then typed in the Balance due on bill rendered and added into the 5th, 6th and 8th regis-` ters. The result shown in the 6th and 8th registers `is typed in the Total amount due column," added into the 7th register, and subtracted from the 6th, which willbe cleared, the usual star being printedto indicate such clearance. The result may then be typed on the stub and subtracted from the 8th register to clear the latter, the star being printed as usual.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: y

1. A telephone-bill-blank, for use in typewriting machines, comprising a body portion and a detachable side portion, the lower part of the blank being provided with short columns arranged in alignment so that entries may be typed therein without shifting the blank with reference to the printing line, said columns having respectively the headings Number sent, Charge, Toll service etc. as per statement, Local service and facilities charge, Miscellaneous charges as per statement, Credit as per statement, Charges for current month and Total amount due, the last column being on the detachable portion, the body portion also being provided beneath the last two columns thereon with columns designated Balance due on bill rendered and Total amount due.

2. A telephone-bill-blank, for use in typewriting machines, comprising a body portion and a detachable side portion, the lower part of the blank being provided with short columns arranged in alignment so that entries may be typed therein without shifting the blank with reference to the printing line, said columns having respectively the headings Number sent, Charge, Toll service etc. as per statement, Local service and facilities charge, Miscellaneous` charges as per statement, Credit as per statement, Charges for current month and Total amount due, the last column being on the detachable portion, the body portion also being provided beneath the last two columns thereon with columns designated Balance due on bill rendered and Total amount due, and the Total amount column on the detachable portion being extended downwardly to receive the entry, appearing in the Total amount due column on the body portion, in alignment with the lower line of entries.

3. A telephone-bill-blank, for use in typewriting machines, comprising a body portion and a detachable side portion, the lower part of the blank being provided with short columns arranged in alignment so that entries may be typed therein without shifting the blank with reference to the'printing line, said columns having respectively the headings Number sent, Charge, Toll service etc. as per statement, Local service and facilities charge, Miscellaneous charges as per statement, Credit as per statement, Charges for current month and Total amount due, the last column being on the detachable portion, the

body portion also being provided beneath the last two columns thereon with columns designated Balance due on bill rendered and Total amount due, said blank also having a heading for the first three columns indicating the dates at the beginning and end of the period in which the charges thereunder were incurred.

4. A telephone-bill-blank, for use in typewriting machines, comprising a body portion and a detachable side portion, the lower part of the blank being provided with short columns arranged in alignment so that entries may be typed therein without shifting the blank with reference to the printing line, said columns having respectively the headings Number sent, Charge, Toll service etc. as per statement, Local service and facilities charge, Miscellaneous charges as per statement, Credit as per statement, Charges for current month and Total amount due, the last column being on the detachable portion, the body portion also being provided beneath the last two columns thereon with columns designated Balance due on bill rendered and Total amount due, the Total amount due column on the detachable portion being extended downwardly to receive the entry appearing in the Total amount due column on the body portion and in alignment with the lower line of entries, and said blank also having a heading for the first three columns indicating the dates at the beginning and end of the period in which the charges thereunder were incurred` 5. A telephone-bill-blank, for use in typewriting machines, comprising a body portion and a detachable side portion, the lower part of the blank being provided with short columns arranged in alignment so that entries may be typed therein without shifting the blank with reference to the printing line, said columns having respectively the headings Number sent, Charge, Toll service etc. as per statement, Local service and facilities charge, Miscellaneous charges as per statement, Credit as per statement, Charges for current month and Total amount due, the last column being on the detachable portion, the body portion also being provided beneath the last two columns thereon with columns designated Balance due on bill rendered and Total amount due, said blank also having for the rst two columns the heading Additional local messages.

6. A telephone-bill-blank,for use in typewriting machines, comprising a body portion and a detachable side portion, the lower part of the blank being provided with short columns arranged in alignment so that entries may be typed therein without shifting the blank with reference to the printing line, said columns having' respectively the headings Numf ber sent, Charge, Toll service etc.

as` per statement, Local service and fa-.

cilities charge, Miscellaneous charges as per statementCredit as per statement, Charges for currentfmonth and Total amount due, the last column being on the detachable portion, the body portion also being provided beneath the last two columns thereon with columns designated Balance due on bill rendered and Total amount due, and the Total amount due column on the detacl'iable portion being extended downwardlyto -receive the entry-appearing in the Total amount due column on the body portion in alignment with the lower line of entries, said blank also having `for the rst two columns the heading Additional local messages.

7. A. telephonebill-blank, for use in typewrit-ing machines, comprising a body portion `and a detachable side portion, the lower part of the blank being provided with short columns arranged in alignment so that entries may be typed thereinwithout shifting the blank with reference to the printing line, `said columns having respectively theheadings Number sent, Charge, Toll service etc. as per statement, Local service and facilities charge, Miscellaneous charges as per statement, Credit as per statement, Charges for current month and Total amount due the last column being on the detachable portion, the body portion also Cix `A being provided beneath the last two columns thereon 'with columnsf designated Balance due on bill rendered and Total amount due, said blank having a heading for the iirst three columns indicating` the dates at the beginning and end of the period in which the charges thereunder were incurred, and also having for the first two columns the heading` Additional local messages.

8. A telephone-bilL-blank, for use in typewriting machines, comprising a body portion and a detachable side portion, the lower part of the blank being provided with short columns arranged in alignment so that en tries may be typed therein without shifting the blank with reference to the printing line, said columns having respectively the headings Number sent, Charge, Tollservice etc as per statement, Local service and facilities charge, Miscellaneous charges as per statement, Credit as per statement, Charges for current month and Total amount due, the last column being on the detachable portion, the body portion also being provided beneath the last two columns thereon with columns designated Balance due on bill rendered and Total amount due, and the Total amount due column on the detachable portion being extended downwardly to receive the entry appearing in the Total amount due column on the body' portion in alignment with'the lower line ofentries, said blank having a heading for therst three columns indicatingthe dates atthe beginningjand end ofthe period in which the charges thereunder were incurred, and having for the first two columns the heading Additional local messages.

9. 1' telephone-bill-blank, for use in bookkeeping machines, comprising a body portion and a detachable side portion, the lower part of the blankbeing provided with short columns arranged `in transverse alignment, sothat entries may be typed therein without shifting the blank with reference to the printing line, said columns having, respec tively, Vthe yheading Number sent, Charge, Toll service etc. as per statement, Local service and facilities charge, Miscellaneous charges as per statement, Credit as per statement, Charges for current month,fand Total amount due, the last column being on the detachableportion, thebody portion also vbeing provided beneath the last two of said columns thereon with columnsxdesignated Balance due on bill rendered, Total amount due, and with a shaded column in transverse align,- ment with said last-mentioned columns to receive the typing involved in picking up in the register of the bookkeeping machine the total amount due which is the result of computing the rst line, so that, although theitem is printed on the blank, it will be inconspicuous and will not be confused with other items. f

l0. A bill-blank for use in a bookkeeping machine, said blank having a transverse line of short item-typing columns including a columnv for the result, one of said typing, columns being used as a pick-up column and being shaded to render the item typed therein less conspicuous than the other items to avoid confusion therewith, while at the same time serving as a check to show` that the proper amount has been picked up.

, 1l. A bill-blank for use in a bookkeeping machine having a register, said bill-blank having for one line-space position a transverse line of item-typing columns including a column for the result of the computation oft the other items, the register being cleared in connection with the typing of the result, and a second line of columns for another line-space position of the blank, one column of said second line serving as a pick-up column for the result of the first line and being shaded to render the pick-up item typed therein less conspicuous than the other items typed on the same blank, while at the same time serving as a check to indicate that the correct amount has been picked up.

12. A set of blanks to be filled out simultaneously in a bookkeeping machine, said bination, a telephone-bill-blank set comprising a statement-blank having a transverse line of item-typing columns including a column for the result, and a second statement-blank having the same arrangement of columns as the first statement-blank and provided With a supernumerary or pick-up column shaded so that an item typed therein and omitted on the first blank will be less conspicuous than the other items typed on the same blank, to avoid confusion therewith, but Will serve as a record of the amount picked up.

13. A set of blanks comprising two statement-sheets to be filled out simultaneously in a bookkeeping machine, one of said statement-sheets having a shaded pick-up area, so that an item typed thereon and omitted on the other statement-sheet Will be less conspicuous than the other items typed on the sheet having the shaded area but will serve as a record of the item picked up.

14. A set of blanks for use in bookkeeping machines, said set comprising, in comprovided with a transverse line of short columns so that entries may be typed therein Without shifting the Iblank With reference to the printing line, rsaid columns having, respectively, the headings Number sent, Charge, Toll service etc. as per statement, Local service and facilities charge, Miscellaneous charges as per statement, Credit as per staten'ient, Charges for current month, and Total amount due, the blank being also provided beneath said line oi columns with additional columns designated Balance due on bill rendered and Total amount due, and a column beneath the first Total amount due column, and a second blank similar to the first but having a supernumerary shaded column in the second line of columns to receive the impression when the Total amount due item from the first line is picked up in a register for computation With the first item in the second line.

15. A set of blanks to be filled out simultaneously in a bookkeeping machine, said set comprising a statement-blank having a transverse line of item-typing columns including a column for the result, and a second transverse line of item-typing columns including a column for the result, the items in the second line being computed With the result vof the first line, and a second statement-blank having the same arrangement of columns as the first statement-blank and provided With a supernumerary or pick-up column at the beginning of the second line and shaded so that an item typed therein and omitted on the first blank Will be less conspicuous than the other items typed on the same blank, to avoid confusion therewith,l but will serve as a record of the amount picked up.

16. A set of blanks to be filled out simultaneously in a bookkeeping machine, said set comprising a statement-blank having item-typing columns, and a second statement-blank having the same arrangement of columns as the first statement-blank and provided with a supernumerary or pick-up column shaded so that an item typed therein and omitted on the first blank will be less conspicuous than the other items typed on the same blank, to avoid confusion therewith, but Will serve as a record of the amount picked up.

DE WITT N. CONKLIN. Witnesses ELLA A. JoLIDoN, J ENNIE P. THoRNn. v

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that the State of .incorporation of the assignee n Letters 'Patent No. 1,483,869, granted l`ehrnary 19, 1924, upon the application of De litt N. Conklin, of East Orange, New Jersey, for an improvement in Invoice Sheets. was erroneously given as New York, Whereas said State should have been given as Delai/)m6, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that. the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the Same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oi'lice.

Signed. and sealed this 1st day of April, A. D. 1924.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting 00mm/wiener of Patents. 

